The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-11-17
ANARCHISTS DROP.
Parsons. Spies, EngsI and Fischer
Are No More.
The Four Anarchists Fall Through the
Death Trap at 1854.
The Execution Carried Out According
to Programme.
The Red Flag of Socialism Must
Cease to Wave.

closed upon them they would not see
shadow either of ignominy OF the hereaf-
ter. The seven hours from dawn until
the four passed to-eternity were crowd
ed full with events, stirring as day Of
battle.
Beginning with fiat refusal in the
very teeth Of death to accept a word of
comfort from reverend minister of re-
igion, one of that number (Fischer)
sang to the jail and the world the song
of the French revolution, the famous
"Marsellaise.'
Then, with seemingly not thought
of the dread massacre at the
Haymarket, the four prepared
for their march toward the gallows al
most as If it were pleasant excursion.
twas 1I:23 a. m. when Sheriff Mat
son, accompanied by grim Jailer Folz,
the manly looking Rev. DR.. Bolton,
and score Of stalwart deputies, step
ped up close to the open door of August
Spies cell preparatory to reading the
death warrant to the four condemned
men Twenty minutes were occupied
in this trying formalitY, rendered
doubly an ordeal by the horrible silence
prevailing, and by the sickening
odor coming from the room
where lay the bloody corpse of
their comrade, Louis lingg, the
suicide. When Sheriff Matson finished
Spies looked at him a moment steadily,
but without malevolence, and then
said senten tiously:
''Sheriff, 20 u are about to commit a
judicial murd err
lie said not hing more, but stepped
quickly from his cells threshold, giving
Ia lEav nd 70 nEa
hidden in one of the snow-white
shrouds, of which a deputy carried an
armful. Spies, while being bound, was
seen to be dressed in a pair of dark
wooden trousers and a shirt OF light
grey flannel fastened at his throat with
a tiny red cord. His feet were en- cased
in pair of embroidered slippers. A
fresh beard was growing on his chin,
and his light, curly hair was brushed
back carelessly. Taking his watch
from his pocket he handed to a deputy,
requesting him to deliver it to his
mother. A strong leather belt was
then passed around his body, securely
fastening his arms straight down to
where a pair of bright nickle plated
manacles behind him, fastened his
wrists together. A moment later his
body was completely enveleped in a
shroud, loosely gathered around the
neck.
The sheriff was addressing Adolph
Fischer, who was even more Indifferent
than Spies at the formality. Like
Spies, he told the sheriff that it was
judicial murder. Fischer held his
SLOUGH hat on, but removed it as he
stepped out of his cell. He was neatly
dressed in blue flannel
shirt, new dark breeches and had been
saved but q few hours before. He
nodded to Spies in pleasant manner,
and asked him IN German how he felt.
Spies smiled good naturally and replied
that he felt first rate.
Engel heard the reading of the death
warrant with stolid indifference, and
he did not utter single word of COM
ment. Before their arms were pinioned
all of the men shook hands with Jaller
Folz and the deputies surrounding
them, all OF whom they had become
we'll acquainted with during that many
months confinement.
Parsons warrant was read last. He
seemed to have nerved himself up to
a great tension, and had nothing to
say in reply. Like Engel, he was
clad in a full suit of black dress clothes,
even to Prince Albert coat.
Forming in double file each of the
four anarchists, side by side with a
deputy, were now headed east and
started for the gallows. A stop at the
iron door of the cages gave the four a
chance to turn their heads in the di-
rection of the second gallery of the jail.
and bid goodbye several times to
Schwab and Fielden, receiving broken
cultural farewell salutes in return.
0Here again spiritual consolation was
offered by Rev. DIR. Bolton, now for the
last time. A sarcastic smile lit up the
faces of all four men as they resumed
their tread along the corridor, and
turned slowly into the dark east angle,
and disappeared like disappearing
ghosts up the steps to the. gallOws.
1t lacked just even minutes and a
half of the Of high noon when a single
was face of yellowish palor, the face
of August Spies, passed the first post
of the gallOws. The gaping crowd ten
feet below, half rose involuntarily from
their chairs at the first glimpse of the
apIa9TiittiOn sd a;ss goo across the
and glanced down at the reporters with
trace of his old-time cynical smile as
he walked firmly over the drop, guided
by the grasp of a deputy, to the furth-
est edge of the gallows. Following
close came Fischer, close enough to
touch Spies shroud had his hand not
been pinioned under the white muslin
Fischer's countenance had a peculiar
glisten, totally unlike the ashiness OF
Engel's heavy features and in strange
contrast with the dead-like color in the
pinched lineaments of Parsons. Tn,
y
with withered look like an old man
He had aged twenty years since tn,
day and the hour scarce twelve months
before when he tripped lightly int,
the court before Judge Gary, an,
flippantly declared that he was read
moment his feet touched the scaffol,
Parsons seemed to completely loose hi
identity and to feel that his spirit wa
no longer part of his body
He had wrought himself to a
ecstacy OF solemn self glorificatioT
Only he the one American. seemed I
realize that he must die in a manner I
impress If possible on all future gener;
tons the thought that he was a ma
tyr. No tragedian that has paced
stage in America ever made a moi
marvellous presentation of a Sc
chosen part perfect in every detail
The upward turn on his eyes, his di
tant far away look and above all II
attitude of apparent complete resigns
ton. and every fold of the awkIyal
shroud only served to NAL
more distinct. He was by far the mo
striking feature or the entire gallov
picture. The squatty form OF Eng
alongside with the stupid, wide-iaw1
face made hideous contrast to Pa
sons assumption of the halo of a ma
tyr. Fischer was head and shoulde
taller than the other three, ma
HlB ms Only occasional loo
OF too evident bravado mo
noticeable than might otherwi
be at sorry disadvantage. Compar
with the steady GOODNESS of Spies, L
latters exhibition of quiet thorou
nerve Tar surpassed as wonder {
demeanor of any of his conrad
The four burly deputies standing
the rear 81 the four condemned m
began without delay TO adjust I